JACKSONVILLE -- A new class of Navy ships will soon help Marines do whatthey do best: float or fly to a combat zone.

The USS San Antonio, the flagship of a new class of amphibious ships,arrived at its home port of Norfolk, Va., for the first time this month.Navy officials say the ship, which cost as much as $1.2 billion and hasbeen in the works since as early as 1996, will support Marine Corpscapabilities better than any previous vessel.

"It's designed to support Marine Corps expeditionary operations," saidLt. Cmdr. Charles Owens, a Navy spokesman. "It's the lead ship in theclass and it's got the latest and greatest technology."

The 684-foot, 25,000-ton ship will be capable of operating as part of avariety of strike forces, and can carry a landing force of as many as800 Marines.

Most importantly, it's capable of supporting the war vehicles of thefuture. The ship is designed to support the MV-22 Osprey, the $71billion aircraft that can fly like a helicopter or an airplane and thatwill be ready for combat use sometime in 2007. It will also be able tocarry 14 Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles, the upgraded AmphibiousAssault Vehicle that is expected to be ready for deployment in 2008.

Other designs were made with leathernecks in mind, as well. The ship'spassageways, for example, are wide enough for fully geared Marines.Also, the racks are no longer stacked four high and give occupants a bitmore head room. The ship's new-fangled water system with be able toproduce 72,000 gallons of potable water each day.

After a stop for the holidays in Norfolk, the ship will travel toIngleside, Texas, for its Jan. 14 commissioning ceremony. Then it couldbe more than a year before the ship begins to benefit Marine Corpsoperations.

"They have to go through a phase where they train as an individual unitfor crew qualifications and ship qualifications," said Owens. "Thenthere's training as a strike group. It's a process that can takeanywhere from 12 to 18 months."